IL Sports Betting: Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites 2025

IL Sports Betting: Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites 2025

Is sports betting legal in Illinois?

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Table Of Contents:

When did Sports Betting become legal in Illinois

Since state-regulated online sportsbooks officially launched in Illinois on June 18, 2020, sports bettors in the state have been presented with a range of top-tier Illinois sportsbooks to choose from. As a new bettor, choosing the right sportsbook can be an intimidating step; however, it’s also one of the most important decisions you’ll make. To help you choose the best Illinois betting apps, we’ve put together this article reviewing the best online sports betting apps in Illinois. 

📱 Top Illinois Betting Apps

Below is a table that summarizes the most important information about the top online sports betting apps in Illinois. You’ll find the top Illinois sportsbooks, their latest welcome promotions and an overall rating (we’ll explain the methodology behind our rating system later in the article). 

Rank 🏅Sportsbook 🏦Welcome Offer + Code 💲Pickswise Rating 🌟
#1DraftKings
Draftkings logo
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly
👑👑👑
5/5
#2FanDuel
FanDuel Logo
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins
🏈🏈🏈
4.9/5
#3Caesars
Caesars Logo
$1,000 First Bet on Caesars
🔥🔥🔥
4.8/5
#4BetMGM
BetMGM Logo
$1,500 in First-Bet Protection
🦁🦁🦁
4.7/5
#5Fanatics
Bet and Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets!
⭐⭐⭐
4.6/5

🏦 Best Illinois Online Sportsbooks 2025

💻 Best Illinois Sports Betting Sites Reviewed

In this section, we provide a more in-depth review of each of our top four best sports betting apps in Illinois to help inform your Illinois sportsbook decision. 

DraftKings Sportsbook IL

DraftKings is one of the largest online sportsbook operators in the United States, and it’s our top-rated Illinois betting app for a reason. DraftKings started as a Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operator before online sports betting in Illinois was even made possible through the Supreme Court’s overturning of PASPA. This early entry into the sports betting industry has allowed DraftKings to refine its sports betting offering. DraftKings’ user interface is second to none, and you’ll find more bettor-friendly odds in a higher number of markets with DraftKings than any other sportsbook. 

🎁 DraftKings Welcome Offer

🏆 Why You Should Bet With DraftKings 

There are a number of reasons to choose DraftKings as your sportsbook for online sports betting in Illinois. DraftKings is the largest and most popular online sportsbook operator, offering high-value betting lines in an industry-leading number of markets. Its user experience is immaculate and they offer incredibly valuable welcome bonuses.

There are a number of reasons to choose DraftKings as your sportsbook for online sports betting in Illinois. DraftKings is the largest and most popular online sportsbook operator, offering high-value betting lines in an industry-leading number of markets. Its user experience is immaculate and they offer incredibly valuable welcome bonuses.

There are a number of reasons to choose DraftKings as your sportsbook for online sports betting in Illinois. DraftKings is the largest and most popular online sportsbook operator, offering high-value betting lines in an industry-leading number of markets. Its user experience is immaculate and they offer incredibly valuable welcome bonuses. ✍🏼 SIGN UP HERE ✍🏼 with DraftKings to enjoy the most popular Illinois sportsbook.

Welcome Bonus:💲Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly💲
Legal in Illinois from:June 18, 2020
Available Platforms:Desktop / iOS / Android
Payout Speed:2 days (PayPal) – 10 days (Check by Mail)
Best Feature:Daily Odds Boosts for existing customers to be used on any sport/market including Parlays
Pickswise Rating:5/5

FanDuel Sportsbook IL

Among online sportsbook operators in the United States, there are two sportsbooks that stand out among the rest, both in terms of popularity and quality: DraftKings and FanDuel. Both sportsbooks got their start in the DFS industry and have leveraged their experience and connections into a top-of-the-line online sportsbook offering. You’ll find a top-end user interface, valuable betting lines (including favorable odds boosts every day) and an enormous number of betting markets to choose from at FanDuel. 

🎁 FanDuel Welcome Offer

🏆 Why You Should Bet With FanDuel

FanDuel has one of the best reputations among sportsbook operators in the industry, largely due to its bettor-friendly odds in a number of markets. Their Same Game Parlays and odds boosts offer bettors advantages not found at other Illinois sportsbooks, and their user interface is both simple and refined. On top of these factors, you’ll also be treated to incredibly valuable welcome bonus promotions when you ⚡️ activate a FanDuel account here. ⚡️

Welcome Bonus:💲Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets If Your Bet Wins💲
Legal in Illinois from:August 29, 2020
Available Platforms:Desktop / iOS / Android
Payout Speed:0-3 days
Best Feature:Same-day payouts
Pickswise Rating:4.9/5

Caesars Sportsbook IL

Coming in third in our rankings is Caesars Sportsbook, which forms the beginning of the second tier of the best sports betting apps in Illinois. Like DraftKings and FanDuel, Caesars has extensive experience in the sports betting space, though not through a DFS offering; instead, Caesars has utilized its experience running their in-person retail sportsbooks to offer an incredible Illinois sports betting site. You’ll find competitive odds, a huge number of betting markets and generous promotions with Caesars in Illinois. 

🎁 Caesars Welcome Offer

🏆 Why You Should Bet With Caesars

Caesars, like the other best sports betting apps in Illinois, offers bettor-friendly odds on a variety of markets. Its game lines are particularly well-known for fairness and accuracy, so those who primarily play these markets may be best served by Caesars. They also offer the extensive range of betting markets you’d expect with a big-name online sportsbook, along with competitive promotions, odds boosts, a solid sportsbook interface and an excellent rewards system. ➡️ CLICK HERE ⬅️ to sign up with Caesars promo code EVGSBAR1000 today!

Welcome Bonus:💲$1,000 First Bet on Caesars💲
Legal in Illinois from:August, 2021
Available Platforms:Desktop / iOS / Android
Payout Speed:2-5 days
Best Feature:Generous Promotions
Pickswise Rating:4.8/5

BetMGM Sportsbook IL

Another major player in the Illinois betting app industry is BetMGM. Like the sportsbooks listed above, BetMGM has a ton of experience in the sports betting industry. Like Caesars, BetMGM’s parent company also runs retail sportsbooks, which has given them a leg up on the competition from a logistical standpoint. This allows BetMGM to offer sharp betting lines, and you’ll often find extremely valuable betting lines on this Illinois sports betting app. You’ll also get early access to certain betting lines with BetMGM; this can provide an excellent profit opportunity, as you can often get lines of considerable value before they have the chance to be moved by sharp money. 

🎁 BetMGM Welcome Offer

🏆 Why You Should Bet With BetMGM

BetMGM is an excellent choice for a wide range of bettors, particularly those who already have some experience with sports betting. Knowledgeable bettors will be able to take advantage of BetMGM’s user-friendly odds and odds boosts to swing the expected value of the bet in their favor; similarly, sharper players will be able to take advantage of early-release lines. Like our other recommended Illinois sports betting apps, BetMGM’s user experience is high-quality, with a top-notch sportsbook interface. BetMGM is also an industry leader in promotions, such as the welcome bonus discussed above.

Welcome Bonus:💲$1,500 in First-Bet Protection💲
Legal in Illinois from:March, 2022
Available Platforms:Desktop / iOS / Android
Payout Speed:3-5 days
Best Feature:Its user-friendly app is perfect for new bettors and it offers extensive options for more experienced bettors.
Pickswise Rating:4.7/5

Fanatics Sportsbook IL

Fanatics Sportsbook is making a splash in Illinois, even though it’s relatively new on the scene. One of the coolest things about Fanatics SBK is that you can earn rewards to use at Fanatics.com, where you can shop for sports memorabilia and gear for all your favorite teams.

🎁 Fanatics Welcome Offer

When you sign up for a new Fanatics account, your first bet each of the first 10 days is 100% matched, for a maximum of $100 in bonus bets daily. In total, you can redeem up to $1,000 in bonus bets, with a $100 qualifying wager each of the first 10 days.

🏆 Why You Should Bet With Fanatics

If you’re in Illinois and ready to get started with sports betting, Fanatics Sportsbook is a fantastic choice. They’re offering new users a welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. The platform is super easy to navigate, and it’s not every day you find an Illinois sportsbook with a welcome bonus that extends over several days. Don’t miss out and ☀️ sign up today ☀️ to start your betting journey with Fanatics Sportsbook!

Welcome Bonus:Bet and Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets!
Legal in Illinois from:April 2024
Available Platforms:Desktop / iOS / Android
Payout Speed:0-2 days
Best Feature:Using Fanatics SBK Rewards on Fanatics.com
Pickswise Rating:4.6/5

🤓 How We Rate the Best Betting Apps in Illinois

Choosing from the available Illinois betting sites is a difficult process, and the best choice will ultimately be dictated by your own priorities and preferences. However, in an effort to provide an objective ranking of the best sports betting apps in Illinois, we’ve created a ranking system that attempts to weigh the most important factors into a single score.

Under this rating system, the most important factor is the value of the odds provided. While this will vary based on the market, some Illinois sports betting apps are known to provide bettor-friendly odds, while others have a higher vig or consistently post more expensive lines. Since this factor will have the most immediate and obvious impact on your betting experience, it’s weighed the most heavily. The second most important factor is the number of available betting markets: this includes the number of sports offered, the number of events listed per sport, the number of betting markets per event, and the number of available bonus markets (such as Same Game Parlays, player props and live betting markets). 

Beyond these two top priorities are a number of smaller factors that play a more limited, yet still important role. The first of these is the value of the promotions offered by the Illinois sportsbook, including their welcome bonuses and odds boosts (if offered). We also take the sportsbook’s user interface, the strength of its customer service, the number and speed of available deposit and withdrawal methods and the sportsbook’s overall reputation into account.

✍🏼 How to Sign Up With an Online Sportsbook in Illinois

  1. Navigate to any Illinois sports betting app homepage and click the “create an account” or “sign up” option
  2. Create an account by inputting the required personal information and setting up a unique username and password combination
  3. Verify your personal information (often through the submission of a government-issued ID)
  4. Make an initial deposit (minimum deposit requirements vary by sportsbook)

⚖️ Are Illinois Online Sportsbooks Legal and Legit?

Yes, each of the Illinois betting sites listed on this page is completely legal and safe to use. Online sports betting in Illinois was officially regulated in 2020, and all operational sportsbooks in the state must be approved and monitored by state agencies. As a result, you can rest assured that – so long as you use one of our recommended best sports betting apps in Illinois – you are safely and legally betting on sports. 

In addition to Illinois the following states have also legalized online sports betting:

Phil Agius

Head of Production

Phil has been writing about the NFL and a host of other sports for the UK's top daily betting paper the Racing Post for more than 20 years. An incurable Browns fan (1-31 survivor), he also specialises in all kinds of motorsport betting including F1, MotoGP, IndyCar and NASCAR.

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FAQs

❓ What is the best betting site in Illinois?

Our top-rated Illinois betting site is DraftKings Sportsbook , though each of our top four Illinois sportsbooks are excellent choices. Ultimately, the best Illinois betting site will depend on your own personal preferences.

DraftKings Sportsbook is the most popular Illinois sports betting app, with over $28.4 million in wagers handled in February 2024. FanDuel recorded an $18.8 million handle in the same month.

Based on each sportsbook’s total handle, it can be surmised that DraftKings and FanDuel have the most users by a fairly large margin. 

All sites for online sports betting in Illinois have similar payout times, which depend on the withdrawal method you choose. Typically, the fastest methods will be online banking-style transfers, such as PayPal. The slowest will involve physical checks in the mail.